Adjustable seat and back rest chair construction



Sept. 23, 1952 o, HATHAWAY 2,611,421

ADJUSTABLE SEAT AND BACK REST CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed D90. 13, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 U y /7 89 Ill! llllllgs n p I Sept. 23, 1952 o. N. HATHAWAY ADJUSTABLE SEAT AND BACK REST CHAIR CONSTRUCTION 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Filed Dec. 13, 1950 Om; M #4 THA WA Y,

WWW:

Patented Sept. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES FATE N- T' LOF F'ICE. a

I v I '2',e11,4 t1. Y ADJUSTABLESEAT AND BACK REST CHAIR i CONSTRUCTION 011a N; Hathaway; Coral Gahles,,Ela., assignor; a

American .Airmotive Corporation; Miami,,.F1a., F. a corlmraiim'xoi Florida Application. December 13, 195(L'Seri'a1 No. 201L6 6? i I This invention relates tdimprovementst inseat simultaneously controlled by a push button that is, conveniently locateduponthe armsupport of TffThe .invention'ifurthen contemplates. ailno'vel ;bacl'c.support that. isLhingedto the seat frame-t .shiftto. varying degrees. of. angularityas the seat frameis shifted upon itssupportingguides, with theJback support. being limited. in. its: angular-ity by its abutting relation. to..the:- seat frame and with the hinge means being so arranged asto permitifreedom of forward swinging movement .of..-the-back support. whereby the back support maybe swung to overlying substantial parallelism with. the seat frame at such. times as the seat may be bodily transferred for'storage or 'in'such .instancesasto permitthe stacking or-storing of variouscommodities. upon. the. seat when .the air- .craftis to be employed as a cargo carrier.-

It. is contemplated .that. the. novel" seat.- con.- struction. shall be formedin either single. or multiple. form, with. each. individual seat equipped with aindependent button. controlled. locking .means.

Novel. features of construction and operation will bedescribed and pointed out duringthe course of the following description;,.reference:being had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein has? been illustrated. apreferred. exemplification of theinvention and wherein 1ike: -charactersi of reference are employed top denote; likea arts throughout the. severalfigures;

In thedra'wings:

} Figure. l is a; side elevationiof a; seat. constructed, in. accordance with? thejnventlon, illusitrating. the. back; support; inn the: forward folded position, V Figure 2 iszaisimilan viewawithithezseatladjusted -to its maximum; forward position and "with the screams. (cross-.4163

i. 2 Figure; I4 is; a. top.:.p1an view of theseat frame and fits .lockingi..means,.. parts: broken "away-"for sakeioriclearness, 1

Figure 5' i'si'a sideviewithereof, Figure 6: igxxarr enlarged transverse :t-aken. on.line.6'S0f Figure'5. and,

Figure 7'. is a horizontal section? through of the seatlocking'elements; i

Referring "specifically to. the "drawings, the numeral. 51' designates atzbasef frame, preferably formed of: light weight; metal -.tiibing,. suchaas aluminum andfprovidedwith. legs- 8 and 1-; snitably tied together and braced'by crossed; tubing The. legs. 'lareextended upwardlyto. form a pivotal point. 9,.for a backsupport; tobe described. When. the'seats are formed in. multiplavthey :are rigidly connected; by. horizontal tubing 10; shown in:section,.ini.Figures 1 anclz. Arigid tubing-11 is arranged 'up'oni. opposite. sides of theadevice etc 1 form a pivotal support: I 2, forrlockingandguiding devices, to be described; The; tubing .1. l., fo1':;pu;cposes of structural convenience; is: angl'edJin. opiposite directions from *itspivotal point-. 1.2;: The several tubes forming-the base: frame are-preferably welded together to form an iextremelyirigid support. A rigidarm rest 1.3 is'carriedi ati'the forward end" of the" base frame 1. and provides: a -mounting support for a push 'buttoni lll to: comt'rol the seat lockingdevices." The armrest I3. is heldagainst"lateralmovement by a rigid-tubing I5, Welded to the crossed tubes 8; as clearly section.

one

shown. 1 It will-"of course be understoomthat thearmrest l3 will lie-suitably upholstered A shiftableseat frame I6,"designated "a whole, is adapted'to be mounted within the b'ase frame'in' a manner topermitforward and rearward shifting movement The frame l t comprises apair of parallel spaced apart sidetube's IT, rigidly connected together at their forward ends by a tube l8 and at their rear ends; by-a tube 19, welded theretoc The frame It is-adapted to suppport a suitably upholstered and cushioned seat, not shown, for removable mounting-"therecn. Each tube 11, adjacent its rear end; is providedwith agenerally U-shaped and rearwardly inclined hinge element 20', preferably welded thereto. Each tubeI'l-is further provided with depending tubular lugs 21; 'spaced'japart and identically" spaced from the forward ends-of the tubes. The lugs 21 rigidly'support polished-guide rods-2 2; para-llel with the tubes" I"! and'spaced therefrom: The rods 22- slidably'engage-Iocking f devices, designated as a Whole by thenumrah 23. -The lockin devices -23, identically: disposed 'up0n' opposite sides ofthe ---'structure-; comprise generally rectangular housings 24, open upon their sides. Each housing is provided with a pair of spaced depending ears 25, apertured and having straddled engagement over the tubes H and pivotally supported thereon by the pivot |2. The ends of each housing is provided with integral tubular guide sleeves 25, slidably engaging the rods 22. As clearly shown, the rods pass entirely through the housings. The housings are thereby pivotally supported upon the base frame and slidably support the seat frame l6. Each housing is provided with angularly disposed apertured bearing plates 21, rotatably supporting a common rockshaft 28, transversely extending across the seat frame [6. The shaft 28 is slightextended at one end and has fixed thereon, a

vertically extending crank arm 29. The crank arm 29 at its upper end is pivotally connected to a link 30, the opposite end of which i pivotally connected at 3|, to the extended end 32 of the push button H. The push button is slidably supported in a tubular bushing 33, exteriorly threaded and rigidly supported in an opening of the arm rest l3, by suitable lock nuts 34. It will therefore be apparent, that pressure exerted upon the push button I4, will be transmitted through the link 30 to swing the crank 29 rearwardly to rock the shaft 28 in a counterclockwise direction. Adjacent each housing 24, the rockshaft 28 is provided'with upstanding pins 35, apertured and threaded for the reception of laterally extending and adjustable tappet pins 36, for a purpose to be presently described.

Adjacent the side of each housing 24 and spaced from the rods 22, are a guide pin and a fulcrum pin'31 and 38. The pins 31 and 38 are vertically arranged and spaced apart, as clearly shown in Figure 7. Locking plates 39, apertured at 49, engage over each rod 22, with the aperture 40 being somewhat larger in diameter than the diameter of the rods 22 to permit the plates to both slide and rock upon the rods. One end of each plate has abutting engagement with its adjacent fulcrum pin 38, while the opposite ends of the plates are extended in opposed relation to lie in the path of movement and be contacted by the tappet pins 36. It will be apparent, that when the shaft 28 is rocked under the influence of the push button l4, the plates 39 will be shifted rearwardly. The inner ends of the plates 39 surrounding the aperture 40 may be formed relatively thick or may be equipped with preferably integral hardened lock washers 4|, adapted to grip the rods 22 when the plates are angularly disposed. Means are provided to normally maintain the plates 39 in angularly disposed gripping engagement with rods 22, comprising coiled compression springs 42, arranged in the housings and surrounding the rods 22. The springs 42 at one end contact the inner end wall of the housings and at their opposite ends contact the washers 4|. The springs are maintained in proper contacting relation to the washers 4| by the guide pins 31. The plates 39 in their angularly disposed gripping action contact the tappet pins 36 and maintain the push button H in upward position. To release the gripping action of the plates 39 in order to shift the seat frame either forwardly or rearwardly, the operator merely presses upon the button l4, causing the rockshaft 28 to rotate through the medium of the link 30 and, through contacting engagement of the tappet pins 36 with the plates 39, shifts the plates simultaneously upon their fulcrum pins 38 against the tension of the springs 42 for a release from the rods 22, permitting the seat frame to be bodily shifted as desired. Release of the button I 4, permits the springs to move the plates again to gripping locking engagement with the rods 22. The seat frame I6 is limited in its shifting movement by the abutment of the sleeves 26 with the lugs 2|.

A generally rectangular back support 43 of U- shape is likewise preferably formed of metallic tubing of light weight material. The terminal ends of the U-shaped frame are formed on an identical arc, as at 44, with the terminal ends 44 normally abutting the rear ends of the seat frame side tubing throughout the normal shifting movement of the seat frame. Diagonal rods or tubes 45 are welded to the frame 43, as at 46 and are maintained in their angular relation by short sections of tubing 41. The free ends of the tubes 45 are pivotally supported at 48 between the plates of the hinge elements 20. It will be apparent from the disclosure, that the rear portion of the seat frame I 6 is supported from the back support 43, while the forward part of the seat frame is supported by the locking devices 23. The limit of angularity of the back support is determined by the limit of traverse of the rods 22 through the housings 24 and the maximum angularity of the back support to a reclining position is predetermined. The back support is adapted to be upholstered in any desirable manner. It will be apparent, that since the rear end of the seat frame I6 is supported from the back frame, an arcuate movement of the back frame will impart a slight rise and fall to the rear of the seat frame and to accommodate this movement, the housings 24 obviously must partake of a pivotal movement.

In the use of the device, the operator when desiring to shift the back support to a particular angularity, merely presses upon the push button M to release the locking devices 23 and then by shifting his weight in the proper direction, causes the seat frame and its hinged back support to move to the proper position and angularity simultaneously. Release of the push button I 4 permits the springs 42 to immediately shift the plates 29 to gripping engagement with the rods 22, moving the rockshaft 28 in a clockwise direction through the medium of the tappet pins 36 and'to project the push button to its extended operative position. When it is desired to fold the back support forwardly, as in Figure 1, the seat frame I6 is shifted rearwardly the maximum distance, at which point, the back support 43 can be swung downwardly to overlie the seat. In this position, the exposed surfaces of the back may be utilized for storing cargo thereon, as when the aircraft is to be employed as a cargo carrier temporarily. The base frame 5 may likewise be detachable from the floor and the unit moved bodily to one side of the craft or it may be bodily removed from the aircraft.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that a very novel seat construction has been provided. The seat frame and its companion back support are easily and quickly shifted to varying degrees with a minimum of effort. The dual locking and guiding means assure of an even sliding movement of the seat with no tendency to twist and the control 'push buttonis arranged in a convenient location and avoids the inconvenience of reaching under the seat in order to release the seat look as is common in seats'now in use. The structure is rigid, has few and simple parts requiring a minimum of attention, may be manufactured at a relatively low cost and is highly convenientin use, The general structure, while being shown and described as primarily formed of metallic tubing, obviously readily lends itself to other methods of construction.

It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise shape or arrangement of parts, but that various changes are contemplated as fall within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A shiftable seat device having a reclining back support connected therewith, a rigid tubular base frame provided with an arm rest, a guide device pivotally supported on the base frame at opposite sides, spring actuated locking devices carried by each guide device, ashaft extending across the base frame and journalled in the guide devices, means carried by the shaft for releasing the locking devices simultaneously, a button supported on the arm rest, connecting means between the button and the shaft for controlling the rotation of the shaft in one direction, a seat frame of rectangular shape having rear terminal ends, guide rods carried by the seat frame adapted to traverse the guide devices and controllable bythe locking devices, a back supporting frame of rectangular shape having lower terminal ends adapted to abut the terminal ends of the seat frame, the back frame hingedly connected to the seat frame and adapted to be shifted to varying degrees of angularity under the influence of the shifting movement of the seat frame, the back supporting frame pivotally connected to the base frame, the pivotal and hinge connection of the back supporting frame permitting the back supporting frame to be folded forwardly and downwardly to overlie the seat frame.

2. A reclining seat structure for aircraft that has a seat frame and a back supporting frame adapted to be shifted in a manner to vary the angularity of the back supporting frame, a rigid base frame formed of metallic tubing, an arm rest rigidly carried by the base frame, guide devices pivotally supported on the base frame to rock in a vertical plane, axially aligned guide sleeves formed on the guide devices, spring actuated locking means supported in the guide devices, a rockshaft extending transversely of the base frame and journalled in bearings carried by the guide devices, means carried by the rockshaft to simultaneously shift the locking means to release position against the tension of the springs, a crank arm fixed upon one end of the rockshaft, actuating means supported by the arm rest for actuating the crank in one direction, a rectangular seat frame comprising tubular parallel side members provided at their rear ends with upstanding and rearwardly inclined hinge devices, guide rods arranged beneath the side members and spaced therefrom in parallel relation, the rods traversing the guide devices when the seat is shifted, the locking means adapted to engage and grip the rods for retaining the seat frame in adjusted position, said back support comprising a rectangular tubular frame having lower terminal ends formed on an arc for abutting engagement with the terminal ends of the seat frame whereby the angularity of the back support is determined by the position of adjustment of the seat frame, the back support being pivotally connected to the base frame, the seat frame being wholly supported throughout its movement by the guide devices and said hinged devices which are connected to the back support, the hinged connection and the pivotal connection of the back support to the base frame permitting the back support to be folded forwardly to overlie the seat frame.

3. The structure as recited in claim 2, wherein each of the guide devices comprise a housing open at its sides, the pivotal means for the guide device including integral ears for straddling engagement over portions of the tubular base frame, a guide pin and a fulcrum pin spanning the housing of each guide device, a locking plate for each housing that is apertured to slidably receive the guide rods, the plates fulcrumed on the fulcrum pins and extending outwardly of the housings in opposed relation, coiled springs surrounding the guide rods and bearing against the housings and the plates to shift the plates to angular gripping engagement with the rods, rigid parallel pins carried by the rockshaft, tappet devices adjustably carried by the pins in a position to engage the extended ends of the plates, the rockshaft when rotated in one direction adapted to shift the plates to a position of release from the rods through the medium of the tappets to permit the seat frame to be bodily shifted in a horizontal plane, the rockshaft and its associated elements adapted to be shifted to inoperative position upon release by the action of the springs moving the plates to locking position upon the rods.

ORLA N. HATHAWAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,400,588 McArthur May 21, 1946 2,409,316 Rogers Oct. 15, 1946 2,530,924 Turner Nov. 21, 1950 2,579,305 Cushman Dec. 18, 1951- FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 527,329 Germany May 28, 1931 356,832 Italy Feb. 1'7, 1938 

